After the scandal over the presence of 70 pack mules in Aconcagua in a state of malnutrition and general health deterioration, the Undersecretary of Environment and Energy of Mendoza acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and accused the College of Veterinarians of Mendoza, with whom there was an agreement for the Animal Welfare program.
The official stated that the organization hid the information from the check-ups performed on the animals of the companies operating on the mountain for the ascents to take place.
“The College of Veterinarians withdrew halfway through the season and did not provide the required information from the reports of the controls they carried out for our monitoring. They acted as intermediaries between the Government and the two veterinarians working in Aconcagua. This hiring method was not the most efficient, and today we are looking to rehire the two professionals, but the entity will have no relationship in this process,” stated Nuria Ojeda to the UNO news portal.
“I am going every week to monitor the situation. For now, it is the park rangers who are supervising the medical checks that companies operating on the mountain must present as a requirement,” clarified the undersecretary of the department led by Jimena Latorre.
Changes in the Animal Welfare Program and the position of the College of Veterinarians of Mendoza
In addition to the incorporated changes, there is an ongoing investigation by the Fiscal Unit for Crimes against the Environment.
Among the clearest cases of animal cruelty is the situation of a mule that was found burned with acid for carrying a battery and dozens of other mules that were found with injuries, blood loss, and in a state of malnutrition in Aconcagua. There are already 10 muleteers charged for this situation.
In response to the request from the Cullunche Foundation to abolish these practices, that is, to use these animals to carry all kinds of supplies and transport them to different camps, Ojeda asked for realism. “We must consider the context we have in Aconcagua with places lacking services; we are working on it, but we cannot think that today it is viable to use drones to carry loads with the many advances and changes that need to be deepened first.”
On January 21, the College of Veterinarians reported that on January 15, agreements were unilaterally terminated because “dignified and necessary conditions were not guaranteed for the proper professional performance of our colleagues.”
“A separate issue are the accusations about alleged bribes received by our inspectors from companies which have created an atmosphere of distrust.”
The statement also demands payment of fees to the entrepreneurs who rent the mules and compliance with the payment agreement that was previously signed.
However, Ojeda emphasized that the province deposited $9,382,000 to the College of Veterinarians for the services of the professionals, aimed at covering training expenses and other costs.
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